Monthly Archives: September 2009

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Cassius Marsh, an Oaks Christian defensive lineman who is among the area’s top uncommitted college recruits, is out this coming Friday at Venice because of a slightly sprained knee but is expected back soon.

“I’ve got to miss this game, but I’ll be back 100 percent next week,” Marsh said. “It’s not serious.”

Four Knight High of Palmdale players are suspended for a Golden League game Friday at Antelope Valley because they participated in a brawl and were ejected last week during a 39-13 victory over visiting Sultana of Hesperia. Two Sultana players also were ejected and won’t play this week.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it a brawl. It looked more like a rugby match,” Knight athletic director Jim Bauer said. “It was on a kick return over by (Sultana’s) bench, and some kids got involved.”

Meanwhile, it’s going to be a big night for Antelope Valley, as former coach Brent Newcomb is having the stadium named after him. Newcomb coached for 26 years and won 18 league titles and three section championships in six appearances.

“I don’t think anyone deserves it more. He’s done more for this program than anyone,” said Antelope Valley coach Brett Pape, who played for Newcomb in the late 1980s.

When coach Ed Croson arrived at Chaminade of West Hills this past summer after 10 years at Birmingham of Lake Balboa, he did not bring any assistants with him, so it has taken some time for the Eagles to learn Croson’s complex offensive system.

That’s why the Eagles (3-0), who play at Canyon (0-3) on Friday, continue to install new schemes and plays on a weekly basis.

“It’s all brand new. We probably have about 40 percent of the offense right now,” Croson said. “We’ve got a whole new offense, so it’s probably going to take three years before we get it all in.”

Because strength of schedule is such an important factor for the CIF State Bowl selection committee, particularly for small-school power Oaks Christian of Westlake Village — which was snubbed last year despite going 14-0 — the Lions (3-0) could use some outside help.

For one, after defeating Skyline (Wash.) 28-25 on Sept. 18, the Lions are hoping Skyline remains enamored by winning the rest of its games, including a third consecutive state championship. The odds are good Oaks Christian will remain undefeated once again, and it would help if powerful Serra of Gardena, one of California’s top teams, also remains undefeated if and when the teams meet in the Northwest playoffs.

Akeem Gonzales, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound offensive lineman for Alemany of Mission Hills, is coming on strong. He has been offered a Washington scholarship, and his blocking Friday against Taft helped spring Malcolm Marable, who rushed for 147 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-19 victory.

“Akeem had some great blocks against Taft, and now he’s playing some defensive end for us, too,” Alemany coach Dean Herrington said.

After losing its opener to Oaks Christian, Alemany (3-1) has won three in a row heading into a nonleague game Saturday at 7 p.m. at Harvard-Westlake (2-0) in North Hollywood.

Harvard-Westlake competes in a lesser division but has yet to give up a point this season, and last year the Wolverines nearly pulled off an upset over Alemany, which escaped with a 17-10 victory.

“We made a lot of mistakes last year, and they played us tough,” Herrington said. “They’re just a smart football team with a solid quarterback and a quick running back, just like last year.”

Once among the San Fernando Valley’s winningest programs before switching to eight-man football the past three seasons because of dwindling participation, Montclair Prep of Panorama City is not exactly celebrating its return to 11-man, as the Mounties (0-3) have lost by average of more than 18 points.

“We’re really like a JV team playing a varsity schedule,” coach George Giannini said.

But Montclair Prep does have youth on its side, as several freshmen are making important contributions, including running back Terrell Newby, quarterback Fabian Alomar and receiver Elijah Dunston. Last week, Newby rushed for 159 yards and 22 carries, and Alomar passed for 125 yards, including three touchdowns to Dunston, who has four touchdowns on the season.

Kevin Williams, a highly regarded safety at Crespi of Encino, made his debut Friday in a 42-40 overtime loss to St. Bonaventure of Ventura after changing his mind about quitting the team to focus on baseball. He sat out the first series but then played most of the game.

“It was a lot of fun playing with my teammates again,” Williams said. “It was a little shock to the system in the first half, but then things started to fall into place.”

Expect a shootout Friday when Canoga Park (3-0) plays host to Poly of Sun Valley (2-1) in an East Valley League opener, as both average more than 46 points.

The difference is, Canoga Park, led by quarterback Frank Koppenhauer, loves to pass the football, while Poly, led by running back Kevin Ervin, runs a double-wing.

“It should a be a good game. It’s going to be one of those games that goes back and forth,” Poly coach Scott Faer said. “They beat us last year, but we didn’t have Kevin Ervin that night because he was hurt. We’ll see what happens in the end.”

Michael Thomas, a reserve receiver at Taft who transferred from Oaks Christian in late summer, has great bloodlines. His uncle is Keyshawn Johnson.

“I’m still learning the plays. It’s kind of hard with the no-huddle,” Thomas said.

Thomas, a 6-foot-1 junior with slam-dunk jumping ability, has yet to catch a pass but has impressed teammate Lucky Radley, a running back/linebacker who also transferred in from Agoura.

“Michael is very motivated and works hard. He wants to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, and I think he can if he continues to work hard,” Radley said. “He has major potential and he will be a D1 college player one day.”

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